Was Our Fate Decided In The World That Was?

Name: Linda
Question: Are the family and circumstances that we are born into here on earth, a result of what we did in the first world age?

Answer: Thank you for asking the question Linda.

The family we have and our life circumstances are not a result of our actions in “the world that then was,” (2 Peter 3:6). There is not a single Scripture in the Bible that even remotely hints at that.

New readers: that study concerns Genesis 1:1-2.

Before I Biblically prove that, I want us all to use some common sense for a moment. Ask yourself;

• Is it logical to believe aborted babies got what they deserved?
• Is it logical to believe people who are raped got what they deserved?
• Is it logical to believe those born with handicaps got what they deserved?
• Is it logical to believe children who perish in automobile accidents got what they deserved?

No, it is not logical, neither is it Biblical.

To be quite blunt, it goes against the very fabric of Christianity. The sole purpose for God creating us on earth is so we can be born innocent in order to decide who we are going to follow; God or Satan.

Jesus Came To Save Us

Look, the very basic tenant of Christianity states, we all need Jesus in order to be saved.

Please turn your Bible with me to,

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God what?

God loved the world, that means God loves you and I.

God loves us so much, that He sent His only Son to perish on the cross in order for us to become redeemed. God is “longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” (2 Peter 3:9).

God wants all of us to be saved, our Father has “no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live,” (Ezekiel 33:11).

If God cursed and burdened us in this world age for our decisions in “the world that then was”, then God would not have given us much of a chance for success would He?

Of course not, and it would completely contradict the verses we just covered.

Not to mention, if God did not provide us with free will, and He intervened to make our life difficult due to our actions from the prior age, we could actually hold Him accountable for our actions on earth come Judgement Day.

Obviously, that is not the case as I have proven so far.

John 3:17
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

God did not send Jesus to condemn us, but to save us if we accept Him. God did not send Jesus to judge us during the First Advent, He came to provide Redemption for the world.

Obviously then, God has not judged us.

God Does Not Burden Us

If God purposely placed us into a bad family, gave us birth defects or some other ill, He would have placed a burden on us. Every Christian should understand, God does not place burdens on people, (Jeremiah 23:32-40). To even insinuate such a thing means we “have perverted the words of the living God,” (Jeremiah 23:36).

Let us continue.

John 3:18
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

We are not even condemned unless we fail to accept Christ after we live out our life on earth.

In fact, this word “condemned” means,

“Condemn”, “punish”, “damn”, and “judge” as a few examples.

We are not “punished”, we are not “damned”, and we certainly are not “judged” in a negative way in this world age for the actions we took in “the world that then was”.

However, we will be condemned if we know better and do not accept Jesus.

Therefore, a baby cannot be condemned as the baby cannot accept Jesus yet. Neither can a mentally handicapped person accept Jesus. So please understand, they are not condemned or burdened by God.

Jacob And Esau

We can find another example in Genesis 25:23-26.

There God states “the elder” Esau “shall serve the younger” Jacob, (Genesis 25:23). Since Esau was the oldest son, the birthright was his, not Jacob’s. Yet, God simply explained to us, Jacob would take the birthright.

God certainly knew what kind of soul Esau was from his actions in “the world that then was”, (Romans 9:10-13). God knew that Esau would essentially sell his heritage, and he did, for a bowl of soup, (Genesis 25:29-34).

As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

Romans 9:13

God made that statement before the two were even born. The only way God could have hated Esau as a baby “neither having done any good or evil,” was to have known him from before, in “the world that then was”.

This is why God could say of Jeremiah;

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Jeremiah 1:5

It would be impossible for God to hate Esau who was an innocent baby and know Jeremiah before God formed him, had there not been a prior age. So these verses all prove, “the world that then was.” Yes, we are talking about Election which came about due to some of our actions in that former age, (Romans 8:29-30).

While good rewards may carry over via Election, notice, God did not curse or burden Esau. Esau made his own way, though God did later bless Esau by granting him and his people “mount Seir for a possession”, (Deuteronomy 2:5).

So even though Esau must have made mistakes in the prior age, God did not curse or burden Esau in this age for it. God simply allowed Esau free will so he could make up his own mind, to make his own decisions in life. Exactly as John 3:16 explains.

We Are Judged By Works

The final thing we must remember is how we are judged.

Please turn your Bible with me to,

Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

We are not judged or burdened by God when we are born. Rather, we will be judged by our works at the end of the Millennium. While some of us are predestined for God’s service due to our actions in “the world that then was,” that is only to help the rest of God’s children find their way in this dark world.

That is only fair, right, and just, and we know our Heavenly Father is all three and more, (Psalms 25:8-10, Hebrews 6:10). Take assurance and comfort in that Linda.